First Known Use: circa 1622
Dictionary
evoke
verb \i-ˈvōk\
: to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind
: to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen
evokedevok·ing
Full Definition of EVOKE
transitive verb
1
2
: to re-create imaginatively
See evoke defined for English-language learners
See evoke defined for kids
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Origin of EVOKE
French évoquer, from Latin evocare, from e- + vocare to call — more at vocation
Synonym Discussion of EVOKE
educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved. educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent <educed order out of chaos>. evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory <a song that evokes warm memories>. elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response <careful questioning elicited the truth>. extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information <extracted a confession from him>. extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly <extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform>.
Other Occult Terms
Rhymes with EVOKE
ad hoc, backstroke, baroque, bespoke, blow smoke, breaststroke, brushstroke, bur oak, chain-smoke, convoke, cork oak, cowpoke, downstroke, ground stroke, heatstroke, holm oak, in-joke, invoke, keystroke, kinfolk, kinsfolk, menfolk, pin oak, post oak, presoak, provoke, red oak, revoke, scrub oak, she-oak, sidestroke, silk oak, slowpoke, sunchoke, sunstroke, tan oak, townsfolk, uncloak, unyoke, upstroke, white oak, workfolk
EVOKE Defined for Kids
evoke
verb \i-ˈvōk\
evokedevok·ing
Definition of EVOKE for Kids
: to bring to mind <The photos evoked memories of our trip.>
Word Root of EVOKE
The Latin word vox, meaning “voice,” and the related word vocāre, meaning “to call”, give us the root voc or vok. Words from the Latin vox or vocāre have something to do with the voice or with calling. Anything vocal is produced by the voice. A vocation is the work that someone is called to do as a job. To evoke is to call forth. To invoke is to call on for aid or protection. To provoke is to call forth another's anger. The word voice also has vox as its root.
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